How to Record Yourself + Love The Results (for women over 40) by Krista Smith at ActivateHerAwesome.com

How to Record Yourself + Love The Results (for women over 40)

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Today I’m going to show you how I create high-quality, professional-looking videos for my own projects. People often ask me how I always appear confident and polished when I’m on camera, so today I’m going to share my secrets with you. Step-by-step, I’ll show you exactly what I do to look and feel great when I’m getting on camera.

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Fresh, Spring Wallpapers for Your iPhone!

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Spring is finally in the air here in Nova Scotia and today I was inspired to create three new wallpapers for my iPhone. I quite honestly couldn’t decide which one I liked the most so I wanted to share all three with you. You get to decide which one you love the most! Happy Spring, friends!

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How to Stop Over-Complicating and Over-Thinking Every Decision

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I’ve noticed a trend with my clients (and ummm, in myself!) when it comes to making an important decision for our businesses. We can tend to overcomplicate and/or overthink it. There are times when it’s more prevalent than others but often it comes up during one of these situations: when it’s time for a change when you need to make a decision when you want to launch a new service or product when you want to create a passive income opportunity when it’s time to examine your business model when it’s time to scale when it’s time to actually create…

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What I learned on a Weekend Away Unplugged from the World

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I’m just back from a heavenly long weekend in Florida with my daughter. Beach, sun, sand, and reading (fiction: Circe by Madeline Miller and non-fiction: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller). I can tell you that I spent about six hours staring at the ocean in total. Yes, it was heavenly. I listened to her pounding surf. I breathed in her salty air. I pondered. I imagined. I dreamed. When was the last time you gave yourself permission to think? To stare into space and just let your mind wander? It’s likely not a surprise to you that my mind…

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A candid look behind the scenes of my business, just for you!

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I wanted to show up today with a personal and heartfelt explanation of what’s been happening since I last posted on my blog. I’ve kinda been MIA. My family grew by one in the late fall of last year. We now have a second fun-loving fur baby named Riley who’s taken up WAY more time than I anticipated! He and the cat, Alice, still don’t get along though I wish she’d just take a big ole swat at him and it’d be over! I’ve been spending a lot of time over at Web Designer Beauty School where I teach web design…

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How Crystals Work and Which 5 Every Boss Needs to Keep Close By

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Minerals, gems, and crystals have been used as tools for manifesting and healing for hundreds of years. They can help physical and emotional blockages. Personally, I like to utilize the benefits of healing gemstones and crystals to promote my own free flowing + positive energy. I believe the natural energy and metaphysical properties of the healing stones are working all the time to balance my mind, body and soul. The crystals not only hold my intentions but actually help manifest them faster. Think about it. Think about how grounded you feel after you take a walk in nature. When you feel the…

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3 Podcast Episodes That Should Be Required Listening For Girl Bosses

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I’ve done the homework for you , ladies. I’ve been listening to podcasts all summer long. I’ve made you a digital playlist with my favorites that’ll help you grow your business (I like to think of it as a mixed tape for bosses). Today I’m introducing you to three different episodes from three different podcasts that (in my opinion) should be required listening for anyone looking to build a successful online business. Firstly, I’d like to introduce you to Profit, Power, Pursuit with Tara Gentile. This podcast, from Creative Live, is my current go to for all things marketing and profitability.…

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How to Record Screencasts and Embed Video on Your Website Like a Pro

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I’ve had lots of clients asking recently to inquire how I record my screen tutorials and have them on my website. In today’s post, I’m walking you through my exact process for recording my screen and embedding the videos on my website. Links to the programs I use (neither are affiliate links — I just really believe in them): Camtasia Screen Recording Vimeo  

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The Top 5 Books I Recommend you Read if You Want to Activate your Own Awesome

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Summer is inching towards us in Canada and since my retreat last week I’ve been inspired to step up my own game and connect more to my own word of the year (R I S E). I’ve been spending time re-reading the books and passages from books that have helped me in activating my own awesome this past year. It occurred to me that because I love discovering what other people are reading, you just might be interested in what is on my own bookshelf too.   Today I’m sharing the top 5 books I recommend to my own clients (and business…

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10 things you need to know if you’re doing this thing called being a boss

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Before my journey into entrepreneurship, I was a teacher. I helped to shape the minds of our future generations. I’m now teaching women how to activate their own awesome through workshops, retreats, courses, and coaching. I’m also using the skills I honed as “the computer expert” on staff when I was working as a teacher to build websites for more amazing women. Standing fully in my own zone of genius means teaching, creating, and coaching. It took me some time (read: years!) to identify the three areas that truly lit me up. And, as I’m sure any creative entrepreneur will…

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3 Mistakes Introverts Make by Thinking They’re Not Good at Marketing

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I’ve noticed a lot of people leaning into their introversion lately. I wanted to lend my own introverted voice to the bigger conversation that I believe is also happening. (Fellow introverts will understand just how hard this really is!) Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that introversion means you focus on the inner world and get energy through reflecting on information, ideas, and/or concepts. You actually prefer being alone and are comfortable with your own thoughts & ideas. Extroverts, on the other hand, focus on the outside world to get energy through interacting with people and/or doing things. They actually get…

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November Free Gifts Just for You | Screensavers and Wallpapers

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It’s November already! I am back from the Action Academy Retreat I co-led with my good friend Jac McNeil last week. I’m feeling totally inspired. Watching the amazing women who gathered at beautiful Oceanstone Resort bond and make big boss decisions in their own businesses was amazing. Here’s a gift for you. The quote I used for your November Wallpaper became our unofficial manifesto at our retreat. I’ve created a wallpaper for you to use on your mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Enjoy! You can get your own copies here (just right click and save once the new window opens):…

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3 Ways You Can Activate Your Creativity & Discover What Experience Your Dream Clients are Craving From You

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As a female entrepreneur, I know what the whispers in your heart sound like. I know because I have them in my own too. I know the mental energy it takes to be able to plan your next exciting offer. The thing is we are often so busy working in our businesses it’s difficult to find the mojo to work ON our business. Between clients, marketing, social media, networking, family, friends, and passions {to name only a few}, where can you find the time to get creative + inspired? In today’s post, I’m sharing my top 3 tips for activating that…

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3 Smart Strategies to Attract More Business

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My teenage daughter and I are currently making our way across Europe. It’s incredible. Last night I sat watching the sunset over the Aegean Sea and thought about our experiences thus far. As I sat with breeze blowing in my hair and the sweet smell of the sea air, I was quickly reminded how slowing down can help the women I work with gain some serious traction in attracting more clients. I thought about how my daughter and I started this journey alone, not knowing what to expect. And how after our first few hours, we got to know and…

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Claiming My Truth: I Am a Teacher

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We are all on a journey. This I recognize. Some journeys are bumpier than others. Some are smooth sailing. It will not come as a surprise to you that I LOVE all things tech-y. Designing and coding a website is fun for me. It’s easy and there is no better challenge in my world than conquering a new software and making it work for my clients. What you may not know about me is that I started off in this world as a teacher. An elementary school teacher to be exact. I was Miss MacKinnon long before I became Krista Smith. I loved…

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FREE: New Screensavers/Wallpaper for Spring!

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I’m not sure where you live but here in Nova Scotia it’s been a loooooooooonnnnnnng winter. In the past fourteen days alone, we’ve received just over 90 centimeters of the white stuff (that’s 35 and 1/2 inches!) here in the Halifax area. SERIOUSLY. You’d think as a Canadian, I’d be use to snow. The thing is we live in a Maritime climate. A typical winter for us means 10-15 cm of snow followed by rain a few days later that washes the white stuff away. We generally have cold temperatures but our proximity to the Atlantic Ocean brings a mixed…

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A New and FREE E-course just for you :)

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Hello Beautiful! February is here and I’ve been in full on creation mode since January began. I’m hoping you’ve been nourishing your own creative inner self too! I’ve just finished an intensive weekend course called Pattern Camp by Jessica Swift. I loved every second of learning new things. Being a student again took me back to thinking about when I was a teacher myself. I educated young minds here in Nova Scotia for ten years. I loved every second of it. I’m certain that’s why I’m so excited about a new e-course I’ve developed with my very good friend and…

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Happy New Year to You – Screen Savers for Your Computer & Mobile Devices

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It’s a time of new beginnings. New ideas. Dreams. Plans. As we enter into 2015, I’m so excited for what’s possible. I had amazing feedback from you last month with the wallpaper screensavers I created for you! I was inspired this morning to create three more choices for you for January. Here’s my favorite on my iPad: Enjoy & please share with your friends! All you need to do is click on the one you’d like to download (it’ll open in a new window), then simply right click, save as, and then download to your device. Once it’s saved, go into your screen saver settings to…

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Customizing and Personalizing your Opt-In Process using MailChimp

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Imagine this: Melanie (who happens to be your most perfect client, though neither of you know that yet!) is clicking around online. She’s searching for just what you have to offer. She spends time with your website and gets more and more drawn in as she scans through your site. She reads your last couple of blog posts and feels an instant connection with you. She’s not quite ready to buy what you’re offering yet but she’s very interested to see how your services might be exactly what she’s been searching for. She spies your newsletter sign up, is intrigued…

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A Case Study: Using Photographs to Elevate Your Personal Brand

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I’ve been asked several times in the last two weeks about photographs.  Specifically how you can strengthen your personal brand by adding images to your web presence. This past August, it was time.  Two years had passed since my last headshots were taken. I really needed (and wanted) to update my website and social media profiles with images that really reflected me and the work that I do. So I went on a mission. I started looking through pinterest to find images that spoke to me.  Maybe it was a pose I liked. Maybe it was the lighting of another.…

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Five Things You Need Before Hiring a Web Designer

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I adore the excitement that comes with each new client looking to work with me to build a website and a personal brand. I’ve discovered through working with my ideal clients that there are five things that can actually stop the process from going forward. And you know how frustrating that can be…for both of us. For you, the client, because you’re finally ready for the investment that comes with a professional design. For me, because I’m in love with your work and can’t wait to breathe life into it and bring it alive visually. If you’re looking to get your…

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A video for you on personal branding

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I’ve had some time to really think about what I want women to know when they start to build their personal brand online. Today, I found lot of pins that really spoke to me about what I believe to be true about building a web presence.  If you want to see my inspiration, head on over to my pinterest board. I got creative and created this just for you. Enjoy!      

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Two ways to make your personal brand more YOU

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The biggest mistake a woman can make is not to be herself in public or private. — Diane Von Furstenberg I’ve been working with a lot of women lately who come to the design process with something like, “OOOHHH…I want my website to be just like [insert name here], only more ME!” Ladies, you are so brilliant all on your own.  It’s totally possible to create a personal brand for you that looks and feels exactly like you do. It’s like this: there’s you [with all your personal flavor of awesomeness] and there’s your business [that problem you are solving…

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Website, Wordpress, and What it all REALLY Means (Wordpress 101 for Female Entrepreneurs)

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I’ve found myself explaining the basics of how I help women develop their own personal brand [Digital DNA] a fair bit lately – the technical side of things. You see, websites don’t just appear for free online. Well…they can, but the ladies I work with want to be seen as a leader in their field and they know having a clean, professional, and credible online home is the way to go. Today, I’d like to use opening a coffee shop as the metaphor to explain how building a website with me works.   The first step in building a website…

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Digital DNA Site for Chelsea Lee Flowers

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    Chelsea is a private floral designer working with brides in the Halifax Regional Municipality. She came looking to show off her amazing work in a simple design that packs a punch with her amazing photos. She’s as delightful in person as she is online. Visit the live site here.

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A Digital DNA Design for Kate Bonnycastle

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    Kate is a local copywriter in Bedford, NS. She really wanted to show off the variety of work she does and have her website work as an online portfolio to attract clients. It’s clean, professional, and oh so Kate.   Visit the live site here.

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On decisions

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She took a breath and flew.  You can too. xo, K

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Always remember…

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You’ve *so* got this. xo, K

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Make a difference.

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Permission granted, beautiful.  Let your thoughts, opinions, and feelings make a difference. xo, K

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You’ve got what it takes.

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You can make it happen.  Promise. xo, K

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